Lightning-rod-connecting clamp.



W. H. McCULLOUGH. LIGHTNING ROD CONNECTING CLAMP.

APPLICATION FILED MAR- I. 1915- Patented May 2,1916.

WILLIAM H. MCCULLOUGH, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO 3'. W.IIIOOREHEAD, TRADING AS RAYBURN HUNTER & COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

LIGHTNING-ROD-CONNECTING CLAMP.

Patented May a, mic,

Application filed March 1, 1915. Serial No. 11,153.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILL AM H. MGCUL- LOUGH, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and a resident of the city of Chicago, in the county of Cook andState of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inLightning-RodConnecting Clamps, of which the following is aspecification.

My present invention relates to improvements in lightning conductors,and more specifically to a form of joint or clamp employed in theassembling of any of the well known forms of lightning rods, or in thesecuring of such a rod to its support; in the first instance, securingthe maximum of efficiency consistent with the material of which the rodis made, and in the second instance, forming an easily installed andeffective clamp for securing the rod to its support.

I accomplished the above objects by means of the clamp illustrated inthe accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is an elevation of a pieceof rod with the usual form of coupling pressed upon each end thereof,and with my clamp shown in place intermediate the couplings; and Fig. 2is a central horizontal section through my assembled clamp as shown inFig. 1, the rod having'been omitted for the purpose of clearlydisclosing the arrangement of the divers elements going to make up myclamp.

Similar reference characters refer respectively to similar partsthroughout the two views.

The rod proper to which my device is more adapted to be applied,consists preferably, as I have shown, of four longitudinally disposed,spirally inclined webs, 3, being respectively star shaped in crosssection, the webs radiating from a common center.

My improved clamp consists primarily of two substantially symmetricalsections i and 5, adapted to surround the rod, 3, and to be drawntogether by suitable means, such as screws, 6, one being located on eachside of said clamp, as clearly shown. The walls of the clamp (Fig. 2)are each respectively provided with a wedge shaped projection, t 5 lyingdiametrically opposite one another, and being cast integral with theirrespective sections, each being adapted to enter between two of the websof the rod, 3, and to substantially conform to their peripheral contourIt will now be seen that by clamping the two sections 4 and 5 togetherabout a form of rod as described, with the radiating webs, 3, as shown,the wedges 4 and 5 will enter intermediate the flanges, 3, and beingwedged in will contact their surfaces, thus adhering and becoming firmlysecured thereto. However, to facilitate the locking power of my clampand in order to assemble the divers sections of rod together securingthe maximum of efficiency consistent with the material of which the rodand coupling are made, I introduce two wedge shaped members, 7 and 8,substantially of the same shape as the before mentioned projections 43*and 5 only being separate and apart from the clamp proper, and adaptedto enter the two diametrically opposite openings formed by the webs ofthe rod, 3, and lying adjacent those already filled by the projections45 and 5 Protruding at right angles to the plane ofthe rod and beingcast integral with one section of my clamp, (preferably 5 as shown) is athreaded stud, 9, which is adapted to receive the usual form of tappedcoupling A, as I have shown, swaged to the upper end of rod, 3, inFig. 1. It is also capable of receiving any conventional form of socket,which in turn is secured to the support to which the rodv itself isadapted to be secured.

It will be obvious from the foregoing description and drawing, that inassembling the rod, or in securing the rod to its support, the section5, will be secured first, either to a coupling A, or to a bracket thathas already been attached to the rods support, then the rod is insertedinto that half of the clamp so that the projection 5 may registerbetween two of the flanges, 3; the two wedges 7 and 8 are then insertedas shown, and the remaining half, &, of my device is assembled andclamped to 5.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is 1-- 1. A clamp for a lightning-rodcomprising two sections adapted to surround said rod and to be securedtogether, and integral projections provided upon each respective sectionfor engaging said rod.

2. A coupling for a lightning-rod comprising two sections adapted tosurround said rod and to be clamped together, means coplel of thispatent may be obtained 101'. five cents eaemby addressing the to he heldin engagement therewith by said sections, and means integral with one ofsaid sections adapted to receive a cooperating member.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

WILLIAM H. MOCULLOUGH.

Witnesses:

D. A. PRICE, A. E. MGMAHON.

Gommissioner or ratentl,

